Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has pulled out of the Saudi Arabian GP after being diagnosed with appendicitis; 18-year-old Oliver Bearman will be replacing him for the rest of the weekend.
- Sainz diagnosed with appendicitis
- Kush Maini inherits F2 pole
Carlos Sainz to miss F1 Saudi Arabian GP
Sainz reported feeling unwell earlier in the week and even skipped Wednesday’s media duties. He did participate in the two practice sessions on Thursday, finishing sixth in FP1 and seventh in FP2. However, the Ferrari driver later told media that it was his “toughest day in a Formula 1 car”.
Ferrari has now confirmed that he’s been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery.
Maini bags F2 pole as Bearman replaces Sainz
Ferrari’s F1 reserve driver Bearman will step up to replace Sainz for the rest of the Saudi Arabian GP. Interestingly, this hands Indian driver Kush Maini pole position for the F2 Feature Race on Saturday.
Bearman had bagged pole position for the F2 race, beating Maini by just 0.025secs, but Ferrari has confirmed that as a result of his new F1 commitments, Bearman will “take no further part in this round of the F2 championship”.
Maini had secured pole position at the 2024 F1 season opener in Bahrain as well, but was later disqualified due a technical infringement. Despite starting from the back of the grid, he’d recovered to finish P13 in the Sprint Race and even scored points in the Feature Race after finishing P7.
Suraj Viswanathan
